'Big blow' - Arsenal have 'huge' selection dilemma for Liverpool clash says ex-Premier League defender
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Michael Dawson believes Arsenal facing Liverpool without William Saliba is a big blow for multiple reasons.
A defeat against AFC Bournemouth was worsened by the straight red card suffered by Saliba who has been a key cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s side over the past two years. He will miss one game as a result after Arsenal decided against appealing his suspension.
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Hide AdTo add insult to injury, the Gunners are set to be without Riccardo Calafiori, who suffered a knee issue against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Also out of the weekend’s game is Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard and potentially Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber - but there are a few days until Arteta speaks to the media to give a fitness update.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Dawson reiterated how difficult Arsenal’s task will be without Saliba - and that there are questions to be answered regarding their team selection. “It’s a huge blow,” Dawson told Sky Sports. “We’ve seen it before when Saliba hasn’t been there. Him and Gabriel, the relationship they have, they’re a real strong partnership.
“Does Kiwior come in, or does Timber go to centre-half or Ben White go to centre-half? Only time will tell. But he is going to be missed, of course he is, against a team that is top of the Premier League table in Liverpool. The attacking threat that Liverpool have as well will cause Arsenal problems, there’s no doubt in that,” added the pundit. “Whoever comes in won’t be as good as Saliba, they’ll miss him. But it gives someone an opportunity to go and express themselves.”
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It means that Arsenal could line-up a number of ways if Calafiori isn’t available. A lot rides on whether Timber is available as he can fill in at right-back and allow Ben White to shift into the middle of defence. Or Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kiwior can come in to ensure White remains at right-back - we will have to wait and see.
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Hide AdOne thing that is guaranteed is the fact that Liverpool will be favoured more to win the game given the injuries to Arsenal. The Reds are without two starters in Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker but they have a greater claim, as it stands, to come away with three points from the Emirates Stadium for the first time in the league since 2022.
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